KnownCarProblems2014 Toyota Prius Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 209 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota Prius, most often about the brakes (49% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles). It is 11th of 27 Prius model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2014 Toyota Prius problems
Brakes
102 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock.
Vehicle increased acceleration while making a right-hand turn and braking, into a covered parking stall. Vehicle did not stop under breaking until front end went over cement parking bumper.
Brakes completely failed and I rear ended a car. I was stopping normally on a city street. According to dashcam I was traveling at about 25mph. The car slowed to about 12mph when the brakes went down to the floor and the car accelerated.
Electrical
33 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 19,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
Headlights and cabin lights failed to turn off when remote lock was activated. Lights were then turned off manually. Five hours later, in the parking lot, the car was nearly completely dead. Last time it happened, we left it and it recharged itself. This time, it did not recharge itself; it was completely dead the…
Seat belt light stayed on, swerve light occasionally. Proved to be rodent damage on wire instruments and blower, panel instrument, antenna assemblies reaching $3,900. Vehicle parked outside residential building on public street in cold rainy weather. Vehicle in excellent condition. Never had such a problem with any…
Other or unspecified
25 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles.
I was traveling on an interstate highway using cruise control and going about 72mph. The Prius suddenly shut down. At first I thought I had bumped the cruise control so I tried resetting it but nothing happened. I stepped on the gas and nothing happened I continued to slow down. Made it to the side of the highway…
Within the last six months, and about four times, I had experienced rough/high idling during hot days and after driving over 80 miles; using air conditioning. (I work over 70 miles from home.) I decided to take the car to the Toyota of redlands dealership on august 4, 2015, because the car was displaying the same…
Engine
17 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled on the road. The contact was able to veer to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was later towed to white river Toyota (303 sykes mountain ave, white river junction, vt 05001, ([phone]) to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be…
I was going down the highway at about 70 MPH when all the sudden the Prius lost power. The Prius dropped down to about 55 MPH. After a short period of time the power picked up. I got off the highway and took the back roads. It was a very hot day.
Speed control
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 11,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius. While driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly. The failure previously occurred once before. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 11,687.
Acceleration driving east on US rte. 50 at about 60 MPH: vehicle accelerated for no apparent reason. I nearly ran into the car ahead of me. This car is equipped with radar adaptive cruise control, which was engaged at the time. I turned off the cruise control in time to avoid a collision. Unintended acceleration has…
Air bags
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles.
While driving on street I noticed in the middle of my steering wheel (where you press the horn) there were raised marks. Very prominent center of steering wheel left side. Slightly raised on the right. I could see the raised shape as a quarter of a bundt cake. I got really scared and drove to tustin Toyota. I ask the…
Seat belt light stayed on, swerve light occasionally. Proved to be rodent damage on wire instruments and blower, panel instrument, antenna assemblies reaching $3,900. Vehicle parked outside residential building on public street in cold rainy weather. Vehicle in excellent condition. Never had such a problem with any…
Visibility and wipers
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 10,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
Musty smell in vehicle, sick w/ respiratory symptoms, including distress after using air conditioning or heating system or defrosters. I brought my car to dealer for 5000 mile service and manager told me the "there is mold inside the air conditioner and heating and all vented air system. This is the way the new design…
I closed the trunk door, and the back light glass (rear window) completely shattered. When this occurred, the glass was not cracked and we were not in extreme temperatures (it was about 65 degrees). I took it to the Toyota dealership, and the service guy said it's "impossible" for the glass to break as it did. It's…
Body and structure
9 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
While parked, the struts that hold open the rear lift hatch failed suddenly, causing the hatch to fall on the head of person loading the car. The hatch was caught by a second person, preventing serious injury. On inspection, the struts were leaking oil.
On a winter day my car slid down a steep road and would not stop while breaking, both front fender flares broke off causing the car to act like it was on a sled. The car eventually stopped after I placed it in neutral and then slid again and then it finally stopped. I almost killed myself.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2014 Toyota Prius recalls
Hybrid system: inverter
Risk: An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update for the hybrid system. If the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with certain hybrid system faults related to this condition, the inverter assembly will be repaired or replaced, prior to software update. All repairs will be performed free of charge. This recall began july 24, 2020. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20tb10 / 20ta10.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2015 prius and 2014-2017 prius v vehicles not included in recall 18v-684. Excessive voltage in the intelligent power module (ipm) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.
Hybrid system: hybrid propulsion system
Risk: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ecu) and the hybrid control ecu as necessary, free of charge. The recall began january 22, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is j0v. Note: the software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14v-053 or 15v-449.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 toyota prius and 2012-2014 toyota prius v vehicles. Excessive voltage in the intelligent power module (ipm) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.
Hybrid system: inverter
Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ecu) and the hybrid control ecu, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on march 21, 2014. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the intelligent power module (ipm) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake actuator valve wear
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received a petition dated september 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 toyota prius v requesting that odi reevaluate its decision to deny dp19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that odi closed dp19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. Odi will review the work conducted during dp19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition the petition and related materials can
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Brake actuator valve wear
Summary
On september 19, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) received a defect petition from mr. Roger hogan requesting that the agency investigate and recall certain toyota prius, prius phv, camry hybrid and avalon hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under toyota customer support programs zjb and zkk (subject csp?s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA complaints allegedly related to the subject csp condition, including 60 reporting crashes. On september 30, 2019, odi opened defect petition dp19-004 to evaluate the petitioner?s request for an investigation. In august 2020, the petitioner notified the agency that he was withdrawing
Questions about the 2014 Toyota Prius
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Toyota Prius?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (102 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); electrical (33 complaints, typically around 19,500 miles); other or unspecified (25 complaints, typically around 51,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2014 Toyota Prius have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 24, 2020 (hybrid system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2014 a bad year for the Toyota Prius?
- It is 11th of 27 Prius model years by number of complaints, with 209 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.